Shelving



Feb. 25, 1930. c, GERBERICH 1,748,339 I SHELVING Filed Jan. 15, 1927 he 20?" CLARENCE E. GERBER/0H I Patented Feb. 25, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- OLARENCE E. GERBERICH, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO LYON METAL PRODUCTS, INCORPORATED, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS, A CORPORA- TION OI ILLINOIS SHELVING Application filed January 15, 1927. Serial No. 161,394.

My invention relates to shelving, especially of the sheet metal type, and the object is to provide an advantageous form of divider, and means whereby it may be easily and quickly attached in various positions in the shelving to form compartments of different sizes. In carrying this out the shelves have apertures spaced at desired intervals and the dividers are provided with locking armsor latches for entering the slots and holding the divider in position. These latches are preferably at the lower end of the divider and the upper ends are formed to make interlock-.

ing engagement with the shelf above. In the form selected to illustrate the invention Figure 1 is a front assembly view of the shelving, partly in section.

Figure 2 is a section on line Z Z f Figure 1. v

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional side view of the divider.

gigure 4 is a view on line 4-4 of Figure 3; an

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the latch mechanism of the divider.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, I have shown a preferred form of my invention in connection with a sheet metal rack or shelving comprising the uprights'2 and the back and side walls 4 and 6 respectively and the shelves 8 which in the present instance are preferably of sheet metal and are referably disposed horizontally between t e uprights. In order to divide the space between the shelves 8 into a plurality of compartments adapted to receive different commodities or batches of the same commodity I provide the shelves with dividers or partition members 10, also preferably formed of sheet a metal. These dividers are of a. height equal to the space between the shelves. The shelves and each divider are'provided with cooperative means whereby a divider may be easily and quickly fastened or locked in any one of a plurality of positions-between the adjacent shelves. In the embodiment illustrated each divider is maintained securely in position by cooperative locking means on the divider and shelves. The locking means for a divider are preferably located along its opposed edges, and one of these means comprlses a shiftable latch carried by the divider and adapted to engage acooperative locking means on the shelf when ,the latch is shifted into locked position. The locking means formed in the shelves preferably take the form of a series of slots 12 disposed across the front and back portions of each shelf in spaced apart series.

These slots are adapted nicely to receive upstanding tongues 14 which are preferably formed at the top edge of a divider, there being two sets of tongues for each divider to project into the front and back slots 12 of a shelf. The opposite edge of each divider is provided with one or more shiftable latches. In the present case I have illustrated the preferred form as a substantially L-shaped latch having a pivot 16, a relatively long handle '18and a relatively short hook shaped toe 20 which when the latch issliifted into locked position projects into one of the slots 12 of the next lower shelf, thereby locking the shelf securely in position.

In order to give the divider sufiicient rigidity I prefer to bend it at right angles along its lower edge, thereby forming a fiange'22 providing a relatively broad supporting base for the divider. This flange stilfens the divider against lateral bulging which is liable to arise when one of the compartments is filled with loose material and the adjoining compartment is empty. Furthermorewhen a compartment into which the flange projects is filled with loose material the weight of it resting upon the flange will hold the partition down and prevent rattling. This may be of considerable importance in factories and the like where, the buildings are 90 subject to considerable vibration. In addition this flange when pressed down by the age of material into an adjoining compartment. Obviously when aflange of this type is provided it is formed with a slot 24 to permit the locking toe 20 of the latch to pass through and into the slot 12 of the shelf. If desired the front edge of the divider may be folded back upon itself to givethe divider rigidity in a vertical plane. e

While the shelves may be provided with other types of cooperative locking means for engaging with the upper and loweredges ofeach divider, I prefer to use the slots 12 in the shelves since any particular slot in a "locking means to hold the locking 15% or tongue 20 in locked. position in the slots 12. Preferablythis is formed by striking up the metal of the divider to form a somewhat inclined or wedge shaped detent 26 over which the handle of the latch may frictionally ride. This detent terminates at an abrupt shoulder 28 which permits the handle to snap over it and hold the latch in looking position as illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawing. There is suificient resihency in the handle 18 to permit the outer end of the handle of the latch to be raised above the shoulder 28 so that the latch when thus disengaged may be reversely shifted to withdraw toe 20 from the slot 12 1. Shelving having slotted shelves, and dividers for the shelves, each divider having a latch pivoted to its side to swing into and out of a slot in a shelf for preventing lateral movement of. the divider, and movable means carried at the opposite edge of the divider for detachably holding it against lateral displacement, said means extending through a slot formed in an off-set flange extending, when in operative position, along one edge of the divider.

2. In a device of the class described havingof said divider having an outstanding tongue I adapted to enter the registering aperture of the other shelf. e

3. A divider for a shelf construction comprising a sheet of metal having an outstand-- ing tongue at one edge and a substantially L- shaped latch pivotally mounted thereon adjacent an opposite edge, said latch having a toe adapted to project beyond the adjacent edge in locking position of the latch, and said metal sheet having an integral punched-up portion provided with asubstantially wedge- 35 so that the divider may be removed by slip shaped upstanding surface terminating in a It must be apparent that when it is desired to form a artition at any desired point between two a jacent shelves one of my dividers is inserted so that the tongues 14 first project into the upper slots 12. The slots 24 of the angularly disposed flange of the divider are then in posltion to'register with a pair of slots 12 of the lower shelf so that when the latch handles are moved downwardly the toes 20 will pass through these slots or apertures and will securely lock the divider in position.

My improved ,helf and divider construction is most advantageous since all the parts can bemade of sheet metal, are light and of simple construction. The divider, because of this simplicity, may be easily assembled in position between the shelves and quickly locked in such position. Furthermoreby the use of registermg slots in the shelf and the cooperating upstanding tongues and shiftable locking toes of the latches, a divider may be inserted in inverted position if desired, between either upper or lower shelves in the same vertical plane, and at all times is securely held in position.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

ath of the olatch shoulder disposed in the e latch in locking for engaging and securing position.

4. Shelvin havings aced aperturesinthe shelves and 'viders w ose upper edges have detachable, interlocking engagement with a shelf at one edge of the divider and a latch pivoted at the other edge of the divider and adapted to rotate into and out of a slot in an adjacent shelf, the latch having a hooked extremity for engaging the opposite surface of the shelf.

5. In a device of the class described having spaced shelves provided with registering perforations, a divider adapted for arrangement between the shelves and-having a latching lug adapted to engage a perforation of a said shelf, said divider having a pivoted latch adapted upon rotation to project "from said divider and en e a register' perforation of the adjacent shelf to lock the divider in arranged position between said shelves, said divider having a struck out portion providing alocking shoulder behind which a portion of said latch ma lockingly engage when said latch isin per oration engaging position.

6. In a shelf structure comprising a shelf rack providing a vertical series of spaced shelves provided with slotted portions, a divider adapted for arrangement between adside of said divider for securing the latch jacentshelves and having an outstanding tongue adapted to inter-lockingly engage a slotted portion of said shelf rack saiddivider having a flange formed with a perforation and a pivoted latch mounted on the divider and having a detent projectable through the perforation to engage a slotted portion of said shelf rack at a point remote from said tongue.

7. In a shelf structure comprising a shelf rack providing shelf spaces, a divider having a projecting tongue adapted for inter-locking engagement with a struck-out portion formed in said rack said divider having a perforated off-set'portion and a pivoted latch mounted on the divider adjacent said perforated portion and having a detent projectable through said perforatedportion to engage a struck-out portion formed in said rack at a remote point from said tongue receiving portion.

8. In a shelf structure comprising a shelf rack providing a vertical series of spaced shelves, said shelves being provided with registering apertures, a divider for insertion between said shelves comprising a metallic sheet, the lower margin thereof having a laterally extending flange resting upon one of said shelves, said flange being provided with an aperture for registration with one of the apertures v in said shelf, a latch pivotally mounted on the side of the divider, said latch being provided with a detent adapted to extend through the registering apertures in said flange and said shelf so as to secure the lower portion of the divider against lateral displacement, the upper portion of said divider being provided with upwardly extend-' ing integral lugs which are adapted for cooperation with the apertures in the shelf adj acent thereto for securing the upper portion of the divider against lateral displacement.

9. In a shelf structure comprising a shelf rack providing a vertical series of spaced in operative position.

10. A shelf rack having a pair of vertically spaced apart shelves provided with registering apertures and a vertical partition adapted for arrangement between the shelves, said partition being adapted for interlocking engagement at its upper edge in the apertures of the upper shelves, and

having a latch at its lower end, adapted to extend into the aperture in the lower shelf to lock the partition in place between the spaced shelves, said shelf being provided with an off-set flange and said flange being slotted to permit the latch being mounted to pass through said slotted flange in passing into operative engagement in the aperture of the shelf.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribedm name.

LARENCE E. GERBERICH.

shelves, said shelves being provided with registering apertures, a divider for insertion between said shelves comprising a metallic sheet, the lower margin thereof having a laterally extending flange resting upon one of said shelves, said flange be, ing provided with an aperture for registration with one of the apertures in said shelf, a latch pivotally mounted on the side of the divider, said latch being provided with a detent adapted to extend through the registering apertures in said flange and said shelf so as to secure the lower portion of the divider against lateral displacement, the upper portion of said divider being provided with up wardly extending integral lug's which are adapted for co-operation with the apertures in the shelf adjacent thereto for securing the upper portion of the divider against lateral displacement, and a shoulder provided on the 

